2008 September « Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar and Political Stress

If you’re outside of the US, you’re certainly missing one of the most contentious and controversial political elections in a very, very long time. I have definitely opinions on it all- which is fine. The problem is that I’m letting my upset really work me into a frenzy. My friends and I talk about it- get mad about it- speculate on it. I was so frustrated yesterday that I almost started crying. That was when I realized that the election is a trigger for me. I know, it sounds crazy! But when someone affects my sleep, that is when I have to back off. If I find myself getting too excited over something, I have to back off. I have learned this-upsetting world events are too stressful for me to jump in and get involved. I called my most political friend and told her I had to stop talking about the situation. I am not [ Read More ]

Well, I’m manic (or at least I was when I wrote this a few days ago!)

and I’m not happy about it.

I get euphoric mania. Since I have bipolar II, I technically have hypomania.

It feels so good. 95% of my bipolar disorder is depression. So mania is like a dream come true- but as with all dreams, you have to wake up.

I am upset because I’m rapid cycling. When I get hypomanic, I think- what if I were like this all of the time? Work is easy- life is easy- I don’t want to overeat- everthing looks beautiful. Why am I tortured with this utopia only to have it taken from me in a few days.

I spent many years in this confusion before I was diagnosed with bipolar disoder in 1995.

I still have the questions, but I know the answer. I am tortured because I have bipolar disorder.

It’s an illness. I now have to go into treatment mode. I’m hypomanic as I write [ Read More ]

bipolarhappens.com reader comments

I love reader comments! Thanks to everyone who leaves a comment. I read them all. I will try to answer as many as possible. It is so important to hear other opinions than my own. Julie

Well, I’m manic part 2

I just wrote a blog on being hypomanic.

Here is what I’m going to do about it.

1. Use the energy to get as much work done as possible. Things have been quite terrible for a month- so I can at least use this energy to get caught up as much as possible. 2. Realize that I always want to drink when I get like this. I rarely drink otherwise. So, tonight, when I see friends for karaoke, I will not have Ouzo! 3. Be home and in bed by midnight at the latest.

Get ready for the downswing.

It’s all about awareness. I created the Health Cards to help me manage this illness- they have helped me manage this mania better than any treatment I have ever known. I am thankful I can recognize this for what it is and do something about it. I refuse, absoluely refuse to make the manic mistakes of [ Read More ]

Things do get better!

In the past few years as I’ve gotten better and better- I’m able to do things I could not do in the past. Here are a few of them.

I can travel again: at first someone had to go with me. I had a lot of OCD at the airport and got overwhelmed with the journey.

Now, I can travel by myself with ease! It takes a lot of prep though- in terms of sleep, etc.

I can teach again. I teach classes on How to Write a Bestselling Non Fiction Book. In the past, I would get way too paranoid to teach- this lasted for a few years. Now I can do it with pleasure- like I used to.

There are many things I can do since starting the Health Cards. I’m thankful. You can read about the Health Cards at www.bipolarhappens.com if you’re new to this blog!

I’m depressed around 50-60% of [ Read More ]